Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Sat, 25 Mar 2006 11:18:45 -0000, Andrew Mawson wrote:

Has anyone done the figures contrasting running costs of oil or LPG in
a big tank for central heating?

See the URLs already posted but note that they might have axes to
grind...

On basic fuel costs LPG is normally more expensive than oil. But recently
both prices have leapt up. Is this going to be a place you are going to
foreseably stay in for the long term? I'd look at some form of "bio
boiler", perhaps wood chip or wood pellet. Or even just a wood burner
with boiler or provision for one. Think about solar panels as well. The
messy hard bit is running pipes etc, do it now whilst you have the place
completely in pieces.

Sound advice.

Get a wet system in, and leave the actual boiler and fuel till later.

LPG is still more expensive than oil, and electricity is about double
either..or more. With power stations operating at 50% eff or
thereabouts, its always going to be that way unless electricity via
nuclear or some other form of energy comes available.

I'd also strongly advise a pressurised hot water system as well..either
a heatbank/combi for a small property, or proper pressurised tank for a
larger.

Frankly oil is cheaper to install and run than LPG - the LPG tanks ave
to me made to withstand pressure, and there are tighter regs surrounding
their use.

If you have a few acres of woodland and don't mind chainsawing and
carting the stuff around, and dealing with the daily ash, wood burners
are good.